Top Fifth-Year Sun Belt Draft Prospects

With All-Star invite season upon us, I want to spotlight players from G6 schools who don’t always get the attention they deserve. This list features fifth-year+ seniors whose eligibility is expected to expire after this season. If your favorite player isn’t listed, there’s a good chance he has another year of eligibility remaining. Some players may still have opportunities to extend their careers elsewhere under evolving NCAA eligibility rules.

This article focuses on the Sun Belt Conference, highlighting talented players deserving of All-Star consideration. Check out the list below.

1. Evan Crenshaw, P, Troy
Crenshaw has established himself as the most accomplished punter in Troy Trojans history, becoming the program’s first Ray Guy Award finalist in 2025. He enjoyed a historic season, earning Sun Belt Special Teams Player of the Year, First Team All-Sun Belt and multiple First Team All-American honors. Averaging 45.69 yards per punt, Crenshaw combines elite leg strength, directional accuracy and field-position control, making him one of the nation’s premier punters and a top NFL prospect.

2. MJ Stroud, OLB, Georgia Southern
Stroud brings a versatile, disruptive presence to the defensive front, impacting the game as both a pass rusher and in coverage. The 2025 First-Team All-Sun Belt selection recorded 15.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and three forced fumbles, showcasing his ability to penetrate the backfield, pressure quarterbacks and create turnovers. His adaptability across multiple defensive roles, consistent playmaking ability and veteran leadership highlight his all-around contributions and make him an intriguing draft prospect.

3. Toby Payne, TE, Marshall
Payne is a respected team captain whose consistency, work ethic and versatility make him a key contributor at Marshall. A 2025 First-Team All-Sun Belt selection, he offers value as a receiver and physical blocker while contributing on special teams. His ability to impact multiple phases and lead by example has earned recognition as a player who changes the game. Payne’s experience and versatility position him as an appealing player to scout in this draft.

4. George Pettaway, RB, James Madison
A former four-star recruit, Pettaway is an explosive running back who combines excellent acceleration, quickness, and change-of-direction ability. He possesses impressive lower-body strength for his frame, along with the vision and instincts to identify running lanes, make defenders miss, and break tackles. His ability to reach top speed quickly makes him a consistent big-play threat. His best performance of the 2026 season came against Marshall, where he rushed for 206 yards and two touchdowns.

5. Tristian Smith, OG, Arkansas State
Smith is a physical interior lineman who brings toughness, leadership and a competitive mentality to Arkansas State. A dependable pass protector with a physical approach, he provides consistency and strength up front. A quiet leader who sets the tone through his work ethic, Smith offers reliability, stability and a physical presence along the offensive line. His resilience and continued technical development further strengthen his profile.

6. Chance Gamble, CB, Georgia Southern
Gamble is a seasoned defender with 35 career starts between Georgia Southern and previously at Kennesaw State. Entering 2026, he earned Preseason First Team All-Sun Belt recognition and was named to the Jim Thorpe Award Watch List for the second consecutive year. A physical, experienced defender with proven ball skills, Gamble brings leadership and football intelligence to the secondary. He recently recorded three pass breakups in a defensive showdown against Appalachian State. 

7.  Ja’Marion Wayne, CB, Coastal Carolina
At 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, Wayne possesses ideal size, length and athleticism for the cornerback position. A former four-star recruit and Missouri transfer, he has developed into a productive starter at Coastal Carolina. A physical run defender with good ball skills and special teams versatility, Wayne combines strength, explosiveness, toughness and a high motor to offer intriguing NFL potential.

8. Devon Manuel, OT, Appalachian State
At 6-foot-7 and 325 pounds, Manuel showcases outstanding size and length for the offensive tackle position. A former basketball player at Beau Chene High School in Arnaudville, Louisiana, he displays good coordination, foot quickness and body control for his size. He also shows functional strength, the ability to anchor against power rushers and patience in pass protection, offering intriguing developmental upside. 

9. Cameran Brown, QB, Georgia State
Brown is a dynamic dual-threat quarterback who combines playmaking instincts with the ability to create under pressure. A former West Georgia and Texas Tech transfer, he has developed into a productive starter at Georgia State. He displays good field awareness and an understanding of defensive coverages, allowing him to deliver accurately from the pocket or extend plays when protection breaks down. Brown earned Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week honors after setting a school record with six touchdown passes against Old Dominion.

10. Mario Sanders, WR, Southern Miss
Sanders adds an electric playmaking presence to the Southern Miss offense after earning JUCO First-Team All-American honors at Iowa Central. He led the NJCAA in 2023 with 72 receptions for 942 yards and 12 touchdowns, earning ICCAC Offensive Player of the Year honors. Following two seasons at Illinois, Sanders has become a favorite target for the Golden Eagles, showcasing reliable hands, route-running ability and big-play potential. He also offers special teams value, having returned two kicks for touchdowns at the JUCO level.

11. Cole Keller, TE, James Madison
At 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds, Keller offers an appealing blend of size, strength and receiving ability. He has emerged as a productive target at James Madison, averaging 16.5 yards per reception in 2026 while recording five touchdowns. He also brings physicality and functional strength as a blocker. His ability to contribute in both phases of the offense and create explosive plays downfield offers intriguing NFL potential.

12. Kolbe Fields, LB, Louisiana Tech
Fields is a productive linebacker who plays with speed, toughness and good instincts. After stops at South Carolina and LSU, he has become a key piece of Louisiana Tech’s defense. He attacks downhill, shows good pursuit and closes quickly on ball carriers. He is effective against the run, can contribute as a pass rusher and has shown the ability to make plays in coverage. His experience and leadership add further value to the Bulldogs’ defense.

13. Justin Powe, S, Troy
Powe has emerged as a pivotal playmaker for Troy, starting in the secondary for three seasons. He pairs coverage instincts and ball skills with physicality and productive tackling. A leader with a strong work ethic, he makes decisive plays in critical moments. Against James Madison, Powe intercepted three passes, including a pick-six, as Troy won 24–21 in overtime. His performance earned national defensive player-of-the-week honors from the Nagurski, Thorpe and Walter Camp awards.

14. Zach Greenberg, OC, James Madison
A former Division III left tackle, Greenberg has demonstrated impressive adaptability and coachability, successfully transitioning to center during his FBS stops at North Carolina and James Madison. He combines a strong football IQ with excellent awareness, communication and anticipation, effectively identifying defensive pressure and managing protection adjustments. A physical, disciplined presence up front, he brings toughness, leadership and reliability while anchoring one of the nation’s top offensive lines at JMU. 

15. Rasheed Lovelace, DT, James Madison
Lovelace is a powerful, disruptive interior defender who combines impressive size and strength with proven run-stopping ability. The Southland Freshman of the Year in 2023, he developed into a two-time All-Southland selection and one of the FCS’s top defensive linemen, even earning a spot on the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List. Lovelace brings valuable experience, physicality and interior toughness, making him the keystone of JMU’s defensive line.

Honorable Mention:
Daytione Smith, S, Marshall
Ibrahim Diawara, EDGE, Coastal Carolina
George Jackson, OT, Louisiana-Lafayette
Carlos Del Rio-Wilson, QB, Marshall
Tariq Montgomery, OT, Marshall
Jalen Slappy, OG, Marshall
Amar Thomas, OLB, James Madison
Fitzgerald West, DT, Louisiana-Lafayette
Josh Dallas, WR, Georgia Southern